Perth c1210 charter translated
Translation of William the Lion Charter to Perth c1210
William, by the Grace of God King of Scots, to all good men both
clergy and laity, greeting. I absolutely forbid any foreign
merchant within the sheriffdom of Perth outside my burgh of Perth
to sell or buy anything contrary to my prohibition, but a foreign
merchant may come with his wares to my burgh of Perth, and there
sell them and exchange his money. But if any foreign merchant
contrary to this order of mine be found in the sheriffdom of Perth
buying or selling anything, he may be arrested till I express my
good pleasure in regard to him. Moreover, I absolutely forbid any
foreign merchant to cut his cloth for sale in my burgh of Perth
except from Ascension Day till the Bonds of St Peter, within which
period I will that they themselves cut their cloths for sale in the
market-place of Perth and there buy and sell their cloths and other
wares in common with my burgesses as my dominican burgesses do
according to my instructions.
Moreover, I command that all who reside in my burgh of Perth and
wish to trade with my burgesses, trade with them in the
market-place with a view to paying my taxes whatever sort of men
they may be. Moreover, I forbid anyone to keep a tavern in any town
within the sheriffdom of Perth except where a person of knightly
degree is lord of the manor and resides in it, and that he shall
have only one single tavern. I also grant to my burgesses of Perth
permission to have their own merchant guild except the fullers and
the weavers. Moreover I absolutely forbid anyone residing outwith
my burgh of Perth in the sheriffdom of Perth to make dyed or mixed
cloth within the sheriffdom of Perth or to cause anyone to make it
except my burgesses of Perth who are in the merchant guild, and who
share the payment of my taxes with my burgesses, excepting those
who have their own charter granting this liberty (thus far). So I
absolutely forbid anyone in the sheriffdom of Perth to presume to
make dyed or motley cloth under my full forfeiture. But if any dyed
or motley cloth be made contrary to this order I instruct my
sheriff at Perth to take such cloth, as far as possible, and then
act according to the custom which was in the time of my grandfather
King David. I also rightly grant my firm peace to all those who
bring to Perth wood and timber. So I forbid anyone to molest them
in buying or selling it after they have come within the lined
marches of Perth. Moreover, I grant to them these privileges and
rights and confirm them by this my charter. Moreover, I absolutely
forbid any foreigner without my burgh of Perth to buy or sell hides
or wool except in my burgh of Perth.
Witnesses: Earl David, my brother; Philip of Valognes, my
chamberlain; Robert of London, my son; William Cumin; William del
Bois and Hugh, my clerks of the seal; Alexander, sheriff of
Stirling; Henry, son of Earl David; Roger de Mortemer; David
Marshall; John of Stirling.
At Stirling on the 10th day of October.
